Turning gridlock into control for Sunrise Real Estate

BESS+EMS system1

solar2 MWp

EV chargers18

Sunrise Real Estate encountered a classic problem: a brand-new distribution center, but no power connection. Due to grid congestion, delivery was threatened with months of delay. No power, no relocation, no business, no growth. Together with Sunrock and iwell, the challenge was reversed: from a threat to an opportunity. Because if you can't get energy security from the grid, you arrange it yourself.

About Sunrise Real Estate

Sunrise Real Estate develops sustainable logistics centers that are ready for the future. Their clients expect not only square footage, but also certainty. Delivering on time, with a reliable energy infrastructure, is essential to get tenants up and running immediately. The same principle applied to the new construction of Loods5 in Halfweg: ready for use with a sustainable energy supply from day one.

The challenge

Completion was at risk because the grid connection would not be available for months. Sunrise could not afford to come to a standstill. With stricter regulations, rising energy prices, and the pressure of electrification, energy security is crucial for both developers and tenants. Sunrise needed a solution that offered independence and kept the project on schedule.

Thanks to our collaboration with Sunrock and iwell, we were able to design and implement an innovative system that combines rooftop solar panels with a battery system. This offers a sustainable alternative for reliable off-grid energy, supports tenants' business operations, and makes the location future-proof against uncertainties in the electricity grid.

Matthew Stevens

Head of Development Sunrise

The solution

Together with Sunrock, iwell provided the missing link: a smart EMS+BESS system that allows the building to run off-grid:

PV installation on the roof provides sustainable power,
Battery storage (BESS) acts as a buffer and backup,
iwell's Energy Management System (EMS) directs the energy flows, ensuring that the power supply is just as reliable as with a regular connection.

Thanks to this combination, the distribution center was able to be commissioned months earlier than planned. As soon as the grid connection became available, the system smoothly switched to smart energy trading and optimization. This means that the battery has not only become a source of security, but also a revenue model.

From stagnation to certainty

What started as a blockade became a showcase. The collaboration between Sunrise, Sunrock, and iwell proves that energy security is not a distant dream. With an integrated EMS+BESS solution, gridlock is transformed into control. For logistics developers, this means predictable delivery; for tenants, reliable energy; and for everyone, a healthy business case.